The National Hockey League announced the finalists for the 2014-15 Jack Adams Award as a trio bench bosses will battle it out for Coach of the Year.
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The NHL revealed that Calgary Flames coach Bob Hartley, Nashville Predators boss Peter Laviolette and New York Rangers coach Alain Vigneault are vying for the honor.
Here is a look at each coach's candidacy in alphabetical order and a prediction for who will take home the prize:
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Hartley: The Flames coach led Calgary to its first playoff berth since 2009 as he helped guide the team to a 45-30-7 record and its 90 points was a 20-point jump from 2013-14. The Flames were seventh in the NHL this season with 2.89 goals per game under Hartley and blocked an NHL-best and record 1,557 shots in the regular season. This marks the first time Hartley is up for the award.
Laviolette: The Predators made the postseason for the first time since 2012 in Laviolette's first year at the helm. Nashville won more home games this season (28) than last year (19) and had a plus-35 goal differential. The Predators placed ninth in the NHL by allowing 2.46 goals per game and had more wins against the Central Division this year (15) than last year (12). Laviolette is looking for his first award win in his second nomination.
Vigneault: In his second year behind the bench for the Rangers, Vigneault guided the team to franchise records in wins (53) and points (113) while New York clinched the Presidents' Trophy for the first time since 1994. The Rangers also set franchise records for road victories (NHL-best 28) and road points (58). The Blueshirts were third in the NHL under Vigneault in goals per game (3.02) and goals allowed per game (3.28) while their penalty kill finished sixth in the NHL (84.3%). Vigneault is up for his fourth Jack Adams Award and he won it in 2006-07 with the Vancouver Canucks and finished as a runner-up twice.
Last Word: All three of these coaches are deserving as Hartley turned the Flames around, Laviolette made an impact in Nashville and the Rangers surged under Vigneault. In the end, Vigneault has the edge for guiding New York to its best regular season in franchise history.
The Pick: Alain Vigneault.
The Jack Adams Award will be handed out during the NHL Awards on Wednesday, June 24 in Las Vegas.
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